Local authority appeals for extended life-span of ailing Botswana nickel miner
GABORONE – The Selebi-Phikwe town council has pleaded with the cabinet sub-committee set up to probe the feasibility of continued mining operations at the ailing Bamwangwato Concession Limited (BCL) mine to ask the government to consider financing the mine instead of taking up the closing down of it, as doing so would destroy the regional economy.
The cabinet sub-committee, which was set up three months ago following revelations that the country’s top nickel miner was reeling from a P3-billion debt amid dwindling underground nickel ore resources and rising operational costs, is set to give recommendations to government on whether to close down or continue mining operations.
Addressing members of the cabinet sub-committee during their site visit on Wednesday, Selebi-Phikwe mayor Amogelang Mojuta said they would make recommendations seeking to prolong the life of the mine.
“We still believe that the future of this town and that of the mine is very bright. We may be in deep trouble today, but it does not mean that we will remain forever in the deep,” Mojuta said.
Four months ago, the government, which is the principal shareholder, was forced to guarantee a $100-million loan facility to save the mine from imminent collapse.
Cabinet sub-committee chairperson Nono Molefhi noted that the mine had, over the past few years, been fully funded by the government after failing to attract joint venture partners due to its huge debt and future viability problems arising from dwindling ore reserves after 50 years of continuous mining.
BCL Mine manager Dan Mahupela said although the mine was indeed broke, it had used its minimal resources to stay open.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Sweet-Orr, established in 1871, is a global leader in superior protective workwear, known for quality, innovation, and performance.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Developed to exceed the latest EN 15964 standards for police breathalysers proving that it will remain accurate and reliable for many years to come.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
